A Walk Down the Aisle - Part 6 - A Conclusion - A Craven Danger Mystery

Craven Danger flipped the switch on the intercom.

Hi ya, Betty. I just been sittin’ here thinkin’ about things. I know you’re out ridin’ around with that high school acquaintance of yours, but I thought I’d sit here and talk anyway. Even if it's to myself. Just like in one of them plays you’re always draggin’ me to. You know, where the actor’s all alone on the stage gripin’ about somethin’. It’s never a happy gripe, though, thats for sure. Not till he gets the bees in his bonnet off his chest, anyways. Then every once in a while he finds somethin’ to laugh about.

Let’s hope that happens to me. Othewrwise I’m gonna sit here borin’ the bees wax out of those pigeons that are peckin’ at my window and lookin' at me for their bread crumbs. I guess that’s the first thing I gotta gripe about, Betty. Why’d you go and start feedin’ them pigeons in the first place? Now I can’t get rid of ‘em. They used to be pretty scared of me. All I had to do was draw my gun and bam! Pigeon feathers all over the place. Then you go and put the kibosh on it. ‘They ain’t hurtin’ no one,’ you say. ‘Let ‘em alone. How’d ya like someone shootin’ at you when ya sit down to ya supper?’ So I leave ‘em alone and now I got enough pigeons out there to start my own messenger service.

And another thing, that perfume you’re always wearin’? It don’t let a fella think straight. It only gets me thinkin’ about somethin’ that would get me twenty Our Father’s and ten Hail Mary’s at the confessional. So you could make it a lot easier around here if you didn’t smell so good. If ya gotta smell, maybe you could smell more like my mother. No. Wait. Sorry. Not a good choice. My mother always smelled like fried fish. But I kinda liked it. Only I wouldn’t like it around the office. I’d be hungry all the time. Maybe you should just be yourself and wear nothin’ at all. On your face, I mean. Not that you should walk around the office with no clothes on, or anything.
There I go, talkin' without thinkin' again.

I know I’m takin’ a slow train to Chinatown here, Betty, tryin’ to say what I really mean to say to you. But it ain’t easy for a fella like me. I know I’m a bit of a putz. Two left feet and all. And, yeah, sometimes I don’t see too good. Like the time I put those bullet holes in your favorite Easter bonnet. But I really thought there was a wild woodpecker on it tryin’ to eat all those pretty flowers. Honest. How was I supposed to know it was only a paper bird?

But I made it up to you, didn’t I? I took you to that fancy restaurant in Little Italy, with the checkered tablecloths and the candles burin’ in the empty wine bottles. All right, I lost my wallet and couldn’t pay the check, so we had to wash dishes for a couple of hours. But we had fun doin’ it, did’t we?

Remember? I sang you that Ink Spots number, Don't Get Around Anymore, and you started singing with me? Then that waiter, I think his name was Walter, he starts singin’ harmony with one a the bus boys until the maitre’d had to come back and tell us to shut it ‘cause he was gettin’ complaints about all the lousy singin’ goin’ on in the kitchen? Then we danced in our dishwashin’ aprons and you didn’t complain one bit about me steppin’ on your toes. Remember that night, Betty? That’s the night I knew you was gonna be my sweetie. Only I didn’t know when or how to say it.

I guess what I’m tryin’ to say is that I wanted to be the one doin’ the askin’. I wanted to be the one to say, Betty? Will you marry me?

“Sure,” said Betty. “I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”

"Betty?"

After the church service, Craven and Betty Danger were driven to Niagara Falls by Sidney Green, who blushed several times at the newlyweds cuddling in his back seat.

“Ah, cut it out you guys,” said Sidney. “I got a long drive ahead of me.”

And so do Craven and Betty. Their adventures are only beginning.

Don't Get Around Much Anymore
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBAbXH0JVWE

Music by Duke Ellington Lyrics by Bob Russell

Missed the Saturday dance
Heard they crowded the floor
Couldn't bear it without you
Don't get around much anymore

Thought I'd visit the club
Got as far as the door
They'd have asked me about you
Don't get around much anymore

Darling, I guess my mind's more at ease
But nevertheless, why stir up memories

Been invited on dates
Might have gone but what for
Awfully different without you
Don't get around much anymore